Tearing strip applying device



March 17, 1942. E. L. SMITH TEARING STRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 6,1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EH52 Zarnz 6mm BY 7- Z d ATTORNEYS March17, 1942. sMlTH TEARING STRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 2 BY d'z LQ M ATTORNEYS March 17, 1942. E. L. SMITH BEARINGSTRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORfl/vm Zorm 5mm ATTORNEYS March 17, 1942. E. L. SMITH 2,276,745

TEARING STRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR [ix/m Zora: 5mm BY q 7 ATTORNEYS MarCh 17, 1942. E SMITH2,276,745

TEARING STRIP APPLYING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4INVENTOR Z7176? Zd/[Zl 5M7 BY Z ATTORNEYS 'ated. The rolls l2, l3,

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 2,276,745 TEARING STRIP APPLYING DEVICE ElmerLovell Smith, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to Package Machinery Company,Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 6,1941, Serial No. 382,022

1 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for locating uponand aflixing to a wrapper in web form a succession of tearing stripsextending transversely of the web. In the usual type of wrapping machinethe tearing tape is placed upon the wrapper web in a longitudinal line.Such an apparatus is shown in the Melhorn Patent 1,965,524. With othertyp s of wrapping machine, however, the tearing strip must be positionedtransversely of the web; and as far as I am aware there have been up tothe present time no mechanisms available for securing the tape to a webin this manner. It is the object of the invention to measure out andaiiix a succession of tape transversely of the web, and to do this whilethe web itself is moving forward either continuously or intermittently.It is a further object to provide a mechanism of this character in whichthe tape feed can be adjusted readily to accommodate different widths ofwebs. It is a further object to provide a tape applying mechanismcapable of being attached as a unit to existing wrapping machines.Additional objects will appear from the following description andclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of the tape feeding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of this mechanism, taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a section therethrough showing the tape severing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a section therethrough showing the web;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the web feed rolls;

Fig. 6 is a detail corresponding to a part of Fig. 4 but showing theparts in a different position;

Fig.7 is a perspective detail of the tape severing mechanism and themechanism for aflixing the severed tape to the web; and

Fig. 8 is a detail of a length of web with a plurality of spaced tapesaffixed to it.

The tape feeding attachment is carried by a frame 10, which may ifdesired be a continuation of that of the wrapping machine and may besupported as by posts H. The wrapper web w comes from any desired sourceon the wrapping machine, and passes between rolls I2 and I3, constructedas will be described below, and then over guide rolls l4 and IS. The webfeed is preferably controlled from the wrapping machine, being eithercontinuous or intermittent depending upon the type of mechanism withwhich it is associ- I4, and I5 need not be 66 driven, since the web ispulled through them by the main web feeding devices. The tape t comesfrom any convenient source (Fig. 2) and passes around a flanged guideroll l6 and then between a pair of'intermittently driven rolls H and 18.Roll I1 is flanged, and has a central depression l9; while roll 18 fitsbetween the flanges of roll [1 and has a central rib 20 entering thedepression I9. The combined action of these rolls is to give to the tapea corrugation which substantiallyincreases the rigidity of the tape asit is fed out horizontally beyond the rolls (cf. Figs. 1, 2, and 7) RollI8 is fast on a shaft 22 coupled through change gears 23, 24, and 25with a shaft 26 which is intermittently driven in timed relation to thewrapping machine in a manner which will now be described. Theintermediate gear 24 is carried by a'slotted arm 21 mounted on a post 28as is customary with change gears; and the latter may be changed to varythe amount of tape fed out during each cycle of the machine. Upon shaft26 is a second gear 29, in mesh with which an intermediate gear 30 isheld by an arm 3| pivoted upon the shaft. A gear 32 is eccentricallymounted on a drive shaft 33, and the intermediate gear is held in meshwith it by an eccentric strap 34 pivoted to the arm 3| at 35. Thismechanism is what is known as a wobble gear drive; and, as described inthe Smith Patent 2,210,734, August 6, 1940, will produce intermittentmotion of shaft 26 from a continuous rotation of shaft 33. Shaft 33 hasbevel gear connection 36 (Fig. 1) with a shaft 31 coupled by sprocketand chain 38 with a suit able drive sprocket on the wrapping machine.

The tape projected from between the rolls l1 and I8 passes along a guide40 (Figs. 3 and '7) and underneath a conical glue wheel 4| (Fig. 1)running in contact with the face of a transfer roll 42 dipping into aglue pot 43. Roll 42 is mounted on a shaft 44 having at its end asprocket 45 given an intermittent motion synchronous with the movementof the tape by a chain 46 passing around a sprocket 41 on the shaft 22and around an idle sprocket '48 adjustable for tighting purposes on abracket 49 which carries the glue pot and is pivoted on shaft 22 for apurpose to be described. The conical wheel 4| may be driven in anydesired way, as by contact with the roll 42.

From the wheel 4| the glued tape passes (Figs. 4, 6, and 7) onto a shelf50 positioned in front of the bite of the web feeding rolls l2 and I3.slanting guides 5| on this shelf insure the correct positioning of thetape. As the tape comes to rest upon the shelf a length is severed fromits leading end by a movable shear blade 52 pivoted at 58 to the lowerblade 54 and actuated by a link 55 (Fig. 3) extending to a lever 56pivoted to the frame at 51 and having a cam roll 58 held by a spring 68against a cam 6i on shaft 31.

The severed tape lies in front of a plurality of fingers 62 movable inslots 63 in the shelf and carried by a swinging member 64. The member ispivoted at 65 to links 66 swinging at 61 from the shelf supportingbrackets 68, and is connected to a pin Ill eccentrically mounted on ashaft carrying a sprocket 'II. This sprocket engages a chain I2 passingover a sprocket I3 on shaft 31 and around an idle adjusting sprocket 14.By the continued rotation of the sprocket the ends of the fingers willbe moved through a path shown at in Figs. 4 and 6, pushing the tapelaterally into the bite of rolls I2 and I3 (Fig. 7) and then returningto its rearward position in a lowered position underneath the nextlength of tape being advanced. The tape thus shifted by the fingerspasses with the web between the rolls and is stuck. to it by reason ofthe adhesive coating it had previously received. As

successive lengths of tape are fed out, severed,

and pushed into contact with the wrapper, these lengths will be stuck tothe web in spaced relation as shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in the latter figure the shears are so positioned as to leave aportion of the tape overhanging the edge of the sheet to serve later asa pull tab. It is desirable that this projecting end should not becoated with adhesive, and provision is therefore made for raising thewheel 4| from the tape at periodic intervals. As previously stated, theglue pot is mounted on a bracket 49 pivoted upon the shaft 22, the wheel4i being carried on the glue pot. A cam roll I8 on the bracket restsupon a cam I9 mounted on the shaft 33, the cam having a local raisedportion 88 of sufficient circumferential extent to raise the glue wheeloff the tape the desired dis tance before the latter is brought to restfor severance.

It is in many cases desirable to cause the glue wheel to be elevated offthe tape whenever the machine is stopped. To this end the bracket isfitted with a projecting arm 8I joined by a link 82 with the armature 83of a solenoid which may be connected in any desired way in the maindriving circuit, so that the glue wheel will be raised whenever themotor is stopped. In order to permit adjustment of the glue Wheellaterally of the tape the glue pot, which it will be recalled carriesthe wheel, is held to the bracket 49 by a clamp screw 84. When thisscrew is loosened the glue pot can be adjusted by screws 85 (Fig. 1)threaded into lugs 86 on the glue pot and engaging the sides of thebracket.

The various feed rolls are designed for manual separation to facilitatethreading of the web or tape between them. The structure of the webfeeding rolls I2 and I3 is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Upper rollI2 is carried on collars 90 mounted on a shaft 9|, which at its ends isjournaled in boxes 92 vertically movable in guideways 93. Lower roll I3is made in spaced segments, the gap 94 between which permit the passageof the tape positioning fingers 62. The segments are mounted on collars95 on a shaft 96 received in bearing members 91 on the frame. A gear 98on shaft 9I' and a gear 99 on shaft 96 connect the two rolls forsimultaneous movement. Normally the rolls are held in contact by springsI60 connecting the end of shaft 9| with a pin "II on the frame, but whendesired-they may be separated by a handle I02 on the end of the shaftand carrying a cam portion I93 adapted to engage a bearing-plate I84 onthe frame to elevate the shaft and retain it temporarily in elevatedposition.

Rolls I6 and I! are carried on end frames I pivoted to the frame III at:86 and provided with an upstanding handle I 01. To hold the frame inthe raised position to which it may be moved by this means a bell crankI88 is pivoted on the handle I01, having one end serving as a latchhandle and the other as a detent adapted to be drawn into engagementwith an abutment'lll by a spring I Ill. The frames I85 are drawn in adirection to hold roll II in contact with roll II by a tension spring II I.

What Iclaim is:

1. A machine for applying tearing strips across awrapper web whichcomprises a pair of web feed rolls, a shelf adjacent the bite of therolls, means for placing an adhesive tearing strip on the shelf, and apusher operable in timed rela-' tion to the web to engage one lateraledge of the tearing strip to shift it laterally from the shelf into thebite of the rolls.

2. A machine for applying tearing strips across a wrapper web whichcomprises a pair of web feed rolls, a shelf adjacent the bite of therolls, means for placing a long narrow adhesive tearing strip on theshelf parallel to the axis of the rolls, and a pusher operable in timedrelation to the web and movable bodily in an endless path with itsreturn portion below the shelf to shift the tearing strip laterally fromthe shelf into the bite of the rolls.

3; A machine for applying tearing strips to a web which comprises a pairof web feed rolls, a pair of tape feed rolls at right angles thereto,means for rotating the tape feed rolls in timed relation to the web feedrolls to project a tape into adjacency with the bite of the web feedrolls, means to sever the projected tape, and a device having a movementof translation towards the rolls to deliver a severed tape into the biteof the web feed rolls.

4. A machine for applying tearing strips to a web which comprises a pairof web feed rolls, a pair'of tape feed rolls at right angles thereto,-means for rotating the tape feed rolls in timed relation to the web feedrolls to project a tape into adjacency with the bite of the web feedrolls, adhesive applying devices acting on the tape being so projected,means to sever the projected tape, and a device having a motion oftranslation towards the web feed rolls to deliver a severed adhesivetape into the bite of the rolls.

5. A machine for applying tearing strips to a web which comprises a pairof web feed rolls, a pair of tape feed rolls at right angles thereto,means for rotating the tape feed rolls in timed relation to the web feedrolls to projecta tape into adjacency with the bite of the web feedrolls, adhesive applying devices intermittently acting on the tape beingso projected to leave a short uncoated portion in each length fed out,means to sever the projected tape at the end of said uncoatedportion'with said portion overhanging the lateral edge of the web, and adevice having a motion of translation towards the web feed rolls todeliver a severed adhesive tape into the bite of said rolls with saiduncoated portion projecting from the side of the web.

6. A machine for applying tearing strips to a web which comprises a pairof web feed rolls, a

pair of tape feed rolls at right angles thereto, means for rotating thetape feed'rolls in timed relation to the web feed rolls to project atape into adjacency with the bite of the web feed rolls, an adhesiveapplying wheel positioned to apply adhesive to said tape, means forsupplying adhesive to said wheel, means for causing the wheel to contactthe tape intermittently to leave a short uncoated portion in each lengthfed out, means to sever the projected tape at the end of said uncoatedportion with said portion overhanging the lateral edge of the web, and adevice having a motion of translation towards the web feed rolls todeliver a severed adhesive tape into the bite of said rolls with saiduncoated portion projecting from the side of the web.

7. A machine for applying tearing strips to aweb which comprises a pairof web feed rolls, a pair of tape feed rolls at right angles thereto,

means for rotating the tape feed rolls in timed relation to the web feedrolls to project a tape into adjacency with the bite of the web feedrolls, an adhesive applying wheel positioned to apply adhesive to saidtape, means for supplying adhesive to said wheel, means for causing thewheel to contact the tape intermittently to leave a short uncoatedportion in each length fed out, solenoid controlled means for shiftingthe wheel out of contact with the tape upon stoppage of the machine,means to sever the projected tape at the end of said uncoated portionwith said portion overhanging the lateral edge of the web, and a devicehaving a motion of translation towards the web feed rolls to deliver asevered adhesive tape into the bite of said rolls with said uncoatedportion projecting from the side of the web.

ELMER LOVELL SMITH.

